A wee note:
At suppertime last night rain began to fall - and not just outside.
It was bucketing down through most of the entire back of the house. Master Bedroom, Ian's room, Upstairs Hall, Kitchen and into the basement - BUCKETING all over the electrical panel.
I called the contractor who showed up immediately, unfortunately he couldn't get hold of any of the tradesmen so Nigel and I had to assist him in trying to secure the house from the rain. Earlier the tradesmen had set up loads of plastic sheeting across the roof, but the rain was falling so hard and fast that it was just pooling into a massive lake over the entire back section of the house, where all the shingles had been removed. I need to mention that the contractor was a bit puzzled when I called, as he only lives a few minutes away and it wasn't raining at all in his neighbourhood.
We climbed up to the new second story on rather slippery ladders and used brooms to push most of the water off and into the back garden, by the time we'd accomplished that, the rain had slowed to a mere shower rather than a downpour, and had slowed to a trickle inside the house.
Big hoorays all around, and Nigel pointed out that I'd accomplished one of my 101 goals - standing out in the rain and getting completely soaked (Number 10).
I'll confess that I had been envisioning something a little more romantic/cathartic when I set that goal, and not a mad dash through mud and nails, hoping that the house wasn't about to explode into an electrical fire.
I've been looking over the other "things" on my list and some are beginning to look ominous, like #13 candlelit dinner, well that could be a power outage, #47 climb a tree, ummm, bears have been known to stray into the city, and #20 donate blood, perhaps I should have specified The Red Cross and not the local wildlife.
Showing posts with label 101 in 1001. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 101 in 1001. Show all posts
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
101 in 1001
Here's my list:
1. Bake a loaf of bread from scratch.
2. Try at least one new recipe every week for twelve weeks.
3. Donate a goat.
4. Complete a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Completed March 11, 2010.
5. Have a picnic under a tree.
6. Get a pedicure.
7. Make homemade salsa.
8. Organise digital photos and files. Completed the Files (only) - December 18,2009.
9. Clear out basement, send lots to charity.
10. Stand out in the rain and get completely soaked. It was tempting to make this a "dance naked to the rites of spring", but Nigel blanched. Completed July 29, 2009.
11. Clean out closets and donate old clothes.
12. Buy a new wardrobe!!! Please see number 64.
13. Have a candlelit dinner.
14. Spend three days wandering Winnipeg taking pictures.
15. Plan a trip around seeing a concert in a different city.
16. See at least three exhibits at the WAG. Bugs Bunny - March 21, 2010
17. Visit three cities I've never been to before. Chicago this autumn. New York? Paris? Glory! Saw Chicago September 17-20, 2009. Very nice!
18. Read a book on manners. Try using a few.
19. Sign up for bookcrossing - drop five books.
20. Give blood. I'm borderline anemic - I'll have to eat a lot of spinach and liver in the weeks leading up to this.
21. Join bone marrow transplant list.
22. See one film a month at Cinematheque for one year.
23. Buy a little black dress.
24. Watch the sun rise.
25. Give up soda for six months. Started August 1, 2009. Completed January 31, 2010
26. Buy new glasses. OK, I know, I'll need them replaced before 1001 days are up anyway, but you know, I need some easy ones.
27. Buy prescription sunglasses.
28. Go to bed by 11 pm every night for a week.
29. Fast for 24 hours.
30. Learn how to use my camera flash.
31. Read 6 novels in three months. I use to read like a demon as a child, but almost never read fiction nowadays.
32. Read a book in the park.
33. Take one photo a day for one month.
34. Go one week without spending any money.
35. Paint a picture.
36. Make a donation to an art gallery.
37. Make a short animated film.
38. Go to the theatre.
39. Watch 6 films in 24 hours.
40. Watch five musicals I've never seen before.
41. Throw a party. Not in my nature - this will be a major achievement.
42. Attend a party. I DO get invited, but almost always jam out.
43. Watch a movie trilogy back to back.
44. Go 48 hours without touching a computer. It doesn't count if the computer is acting up.
45. Get my own laptop.
46. Fly a kite.
47. Climb a tree.
48. Spend all day in my jammies.
49. Buy a suit.
50. Talk to someone famous. I'm regretting not chatting with LeVar Burton when I had the chance. Fool.
51. Bake a pie from scratch.
52. Donate $5 for every goal not completed.
53. Knit a fairisle sweater.
54. Eat no refined sugar for one week. This must not coincide with numbers 51 or 78. Amazing! I did it! March 6 - March 18, 2010 (almost two weeks)!
55. Keep track of all finances for one month. I know, I know, it's shameful.
56. See 3 concerts.
57. Go to the ballet.
58. Go to the opera.
59. Go two weeks without using the credit card.
60. Catalogue all books and DVDs.
61. Bring my own shopping bags without fail, for six months. Started July 16, 2009. Completed January 16, 2010 (and have no intention of stopping).
62. Bring a travel mug to coffee houses without fail, for six months. Started July 16, 2009. Completed January 16, 2010, no problem!
63. Buy a piece of original art.
64. Drop a size. Starting from tomorrow - I've actually already dropped a size from last autumn. Could actually stand to drop a few sizes, but nevermind that.
65. Plant a tree.
66. Sew a tote bag.
67. Watch the sun set.
68. Buy a new bed. Completed December, 2009.
69. Learn beginner's conversational Norwegian. You'll have to trust me when I tell you this goal is completed.
70. Sew a quilt.
71. Finish the Asian Ladies cross-stitch. Begun a couple of years ago.
72. Take a road trip somewhere other than Fargo.
73. Learn to use a drop spindle. Purchased one July 29, 2009.
74. Sign up for TKGA Masters Knitting course.
75. Post everyday to the blog for two weeks.
76. Hike through Spirit Sands. Completed August 30, 2009.
77. Buy no new yarn for six months. I'd considered twelve months, then reconsidered. Started September 1, 2009. I did it! Completed February 28, 2010.
78. Bake cookies every Friday for eight weeks.
79. Design and knit a knitted object.
80. Upload a short film to Youtube.
81. Write a heartfelt note to someone. Not the sort of thing I would EVER do.
82. Make homemade jelly.
83. Buy fresh cut flowers every week for six weeks. I think, perhaps, in the dead of winter.
84. Stop swearing for six weeks. Damn it.
85. Make a collage.
86. Wear a Hallowe'en costume (on Hallowe'en).
87. Wear a different hat everyday for two weeks. I use to be known for my hat-wearing! What the hell happened? Oops - must stop swearing...
88. Bring Betsy out to visit.
89. Put together two emergency kits - one for home, one for auto. Gads! How long has THAT been on the "to do" list! One is in the trunk of the car as I type! - December, 2009
90. Buy a ukulele. I've always wanted one, and since they're popular right now... Completed August 26, 2009.
91. Sign up for a beginner ukulele class.
92. Watch Nigel's complete boxed set of Kubrick films.
93. Watch Nigel's complete boxed set of Herzog films. My Best Fiend - completed July 25, 2009.
94. Go one week without reading, watching or listening to the news. This will be hard for me.
95. Sleep under the stars.
96. Jump on a trampoline.
97. Sign up for a Pilate's class.
98. Visit Jane in Toronto.
99. Get another tattoo.
100. Overwinter an impatiens plant. Successfully.
101. Grow a pumpkin.
Some are seasonal, a few won't be considered until after the reno is finished, many I've done before, quite a few of them aren't really all that challenging just things I really should get around to, but the plan is to have the list completed by April 12, 2012 and that's starting as of tomorrow.
Wish me lykke til!.
...that's good luck in Norwegian...
1. Bake a loaf of bread from scratch.
2. Try at least one new recipe every week for twelve weeks.
3. Donate a goat.
4. Complete a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. Completed March 11, 2010.
5. Have a picnic under a tree.
6. Get a pedicure.
7. Make homemade salsa.
8. Organise digital photos and files. Completed the Files (only) - December 18,2009.
9. Clear out basement, send lots to charity.
10. Stand out in the rain and get completely soaked. It was tempting to make this a "dance naked to the rites of spring", but Nigel blanched. Completed July 29, 2009.
11. Clean out closets and donate old clothes.
12. Buy a new wardrobe!!! Please see number 64.
13. Have a candlelit dinner.
14. Spend three days wandering Winnipeg taking pictures.
15. Plan a trip around seeing a concert in a different city.
16. See at least three exhibits at the WAG. Bugs Bunny - March 21, 2010
17. Visit three cities I've never been to before. Chicago this autumn. New York? Paris? Glory! Saw Chicago September 17-20, 2009. Very nice!
18. Read a book on manners. Try using a few.
19. Sign up for bookcrossing - drop five books.
20. Give blood. I'm borderline anemic - I'll have to eat a lot of spinach and liver in the weeks leading up to this.
21. Join bone marrow transplant list.
22. See one film a month at Cinematheque for one year.
23. Buy a little black dress.
24. Watch the sun rise.
25. Give up soda for six months. Started August 1, 2009. Completed January 31, 2010
26. Buy new glasses. OK, I know, I'll need them replaced before 1001 days are up anyway, but you know, I need some easy ones.
27. Buy prescription sunglasses.
28. Go to bed by 11 pm every night for a week.
29. Fast for 24 hours.
30. Learn how to use my camera flash.
31. Read 6 novels in three months. I use to read like a demon as a child, but almost never read fiction nowadays.
32. Read a book in the park.
33. Take one photo a day for one month.
34. Go one week without spending any money.
35. Paint a picture.
36. Make a donation to an art gallery.
37. Make a short animated film.
38. Go to the theatre.
39. Watch 6 films in 24 hours.
40. Watch five musicals I've never seen before.
41. Throw a party. Not in my nature - this will be a major achievement.
42. Attend a party. I DO get invited, but almost always jam out.
43. Watch a movie trilogy back to back.
44. Go 48 hours without touching a computer. It doesn't count if the computer is acting up.
45. Get my own laptop.
46. Fly a kite.
47. Climb a tree.
48. Spend all day in my jammies.
49. Buy a suit.
50. Talk to someone famous. I'm regretting not chatting with LeVar Burton when I had the chance. Fool.
51. Bake a pie from scratch.
52. Donate $5 for every goal not completed.
53. Knit a fairisle sweater.
54. Eat no refined sugar for one week. This must not coincide with numbers 51 or 78. Amazing! I did it! March 6 - March 18, 2010 (almost two weeks)!
55. Keep track of all finances for one month. I know, I know, it's shameful.
56. See 3 concerts.
57. Go to the ballet.
58. Go to the opera.
59. Go two weeks without using the credit card.
60. Catalogue all books and DVDs.
61. Bring my own shopping bags without fail, for six months. Started July 16, 2009. Completed January 16, 2010 (and have no intention of stopping).
62. Bring a travel mug to coffee houses without fail, for six months. Started July 16, 2009. Completed January 16, 2010, no problem!
63. Buy a piece of original art.
64. Drop a size. Starting from tomorrow - I've actually already dropped a size from last autumn. Could actually stand to drop a few sizes, but nevermind that.
65. Plant a tree.
66. Sew a tote bag.
67. Watch the sun set.
68. Buy a new bed. Completed December, 2009.
69. Learn beginner's conversational Norwegian. You'll have to trust me when I tell you this goal is completed.
70. Sew a quilt.
71. Finish the Asian Ladies cross-stitch. Begun a couple of years ago.
72. Take a road trip somewhere other than Fargo.
73. Learn to use a drop spindle. Purchased one July 29, 2009.
74. Sign up for TKGA Masters Knitting course.
75. Post everyday to the blog for two weeks.
76. Hike through Spirit Sands. Completed August 30, 2009.
77. Buy no new yarn for six months. I'd considered twelve months, then reconsidered. Started September 1, 2009. I did it! Completed February 28, 2010.
78. Bake cookies every Friday for eight weeks.
79. Design and knit a knitted object.
80. Upload a short film to Youtube.
81. Write a heartfelt note to someone. Not the sort of thing I would EVER do.
82. Make homemade jelly.
83. Buy fresh cut flowers every week for six weeks. I think, perhaps, in the dead of winter.
84. Stop swearing for six weeks. Damn it.
85. Make a collage.
86. Wear a Hallowe'en costume (on Hallowe'en).
87. Wear a different hat everyday for two weeks. I use to be known for my hat-wearing! What the hell happened? Oops - must stop swearing...
88. Bring Betsy out to visit.
89. Put together two emergency kits - one for home, one for auto. Gads! How long has THAT been on the "to do" list! One is in the trunk of the car as I type! - December, 2009
90. Buy a ukulele. I've always wanted one, and since they're popular right now... Completed August 26, 2009.
91. Sign up for a beginner ukulele class.
92. Watch Nigel's complete boxed set of Kubrick films.
93. Watch Nigel's complete boxed set of Herzog films. My Best Fiend - completed July 25, 2009.
94. Go one week without reading, watching or listening to the news. This will be hard for me.
95. Sleep under the stars.
96. Jump on a trampoline.
97. Sign up for a Pilate's class.
98. Visit Jane in Toronto.
99. Get another tattoo.
100. Overwinter an impatiens plant. Successfully.
101. Grow a pumpkin.
Some are seasonal, a few won't be considered until after the reno is finished, many I've done before, quite a few of them aren't really all that challenging just things I really should get around to, but the plan is to have the list completed by April 12, 2012 and that's starting as of tomorrow.
Wish me lykke til!.
...that's good luck in Norwegian...
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Going By in a Blur
The summer, which seemed to take forever to start, is now going by at high speed.
Wednesday past was Canada Day as well as wee Ian's 13th birthday, and now he's off in Toronto on his first solo journey - to see his cousins. The trip seemed a long way away when I booked it back in March, but suddenly it was upon us. In the rush to get all things ready to go I neglected to give him his Auntie's phone number in Toronto. It was a tense moment while I waited for a call saying they'd recognised him at the airport (there's a big difference between last year's 12 year old and this year's teenager - in appearance only, his personality is still goofy as you can see in the snap). All ended well though, or rather, all began well. We'll have to wait and hear how things go.
I promised in the last post that I would weed the side bed (which I did!) and show off the lovely perennial garden that's been with the house for years; sadly, the one-two punch of the early spring thaw and late spring cold snap seems to have left little more than weeds (which I removed). I dashed out and bought and planted replacements for what I remembered had been there, but I'm afraid they don't look like much at the moment.
Here's an annual instead:
It's some kind of daisy, I'm not sure of the name. I think it should be called Mid-20th Century Daisy, as it's got that crazy sunburst/quasar thing going on.
One perennial that survived was this blue pelargonium:
a beautiful blue.
Our ceramic ducks survived.
To be fair though, they survived because I brought them in for the winter.
I was out thrift shopping earlier this week and came across two ceramic cookie jars.
One shaped like a wee cottage. Quite, quite adorable, but not vintage.
Also, this one. A true vintage one, Elly agreed that the deer eating the fruit was absolutely superior to the cottage, which, though very sweet, is a tad bland. Now sister Jane and brother Ian can correct me (since they're older and therefore have more childhood memories than me), but I'm certain we had a cookie jar identical to this growing up. Please confirm.
Everyone knows that the last thing I need is a new project, but I've only just heard about this one, which started sometime back in 2005. 101 goals in 1001 Days. The gist of it being, you set yourself 101 goals to be achieved in 1001 days - very straight forward. Since 1001 days is a little over two and a half years you're expected to set a few lofty goals as well as some easy ones. For example, someone might plan to run a marathon (not me) and also plan to read every Harry Potter book (already did that). Also popular choices are one's that challenge you to do things that are, perhaps, out of character, say, a shy person setting a goal to strike up conversations with three strangers.
As I turned this over in my mind, I thought it might be good to get some perspective on my weaknesses, so I asked Nigel, "What do you think is my worst quality?". After a long pause he said carefully, "...but you're perfect in every way." Since this wasn't the answer I was looking for I thought I'd put it to the kids. Immediately Ian chirped up, "I know! It's your temper!", to which Elly replied, "No, no. She's too fat!"
Ah, kids...good thing I didn't get mad, or I would've had to sit on them.
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